Flexible closure boot



March 13, 1928.

A, G. GEISIERT FLEXIBLE CLOSURE BOOT Filed Feb. 5 1927 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIC-ii.

ALBERT G. GEISTERT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASiSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION,' OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLEXIBLE CLOSURE BOOT.

Application filed February 5, 1927. Serial in. 168,245.

This invention relates to boots or flexible closures for openings thru which a movable member extends. The device has a wide range of application to various kinds of machinery, but is particularly useful in connection with certain types of power'units for motor vehicles, wherein the clutch release yoke extends thru an elongated slot or open .ing in the flywheel and transmission hous-' One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a boot or hood to cover the opening in the housing, so as to prevent the entrance of sand, gravel or other foreign matter which would be detrimental to the mechanism, without affecting the free move ment of the fork. I

A further object is to provide a simple and efiicient construction which will be economical to manufacture and install, and easy to replace.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the flywheel housing of an explosive engine, showing the application of the present invention. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 8 is 30 an elevation of the boot partly broken away. Figure 4 is a plan view of the flexible ma terial of the boot, illustrating the pattern after which it is formed from flat stock.

Referring to the drawing, illustrating the preferred, but not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention, the housing for the flywheel and clutch is indicated at 1, having an elongated opening or slot 2, thru which reciprocates a pivoted operating arm or clutch release yoke lever 8. A rod 4 having an adjusting nut 5 thereon, extends thru an eye in the end of the lever 3, and is pivotally connected to the end of the foot operated lever 6, to move the clutch into and out of engagement.

vltn order to exclude dirt from the opening or slot 2, the boot or hood is provided, which consists of a spring wire frame 7 and a tapered or substantially conical shaped fiex-' ible cover 8, of fabric, leather or other suitable material. The cover 8 is preferably made from-a single piece of flat material, out after a predetermined pattern and sewed together. Figure 4 shows a fiat piece of material out to proper shape for forming the by dotted lines, to form a marginal scope of the appended claims.

boot of the preceding figures. After the flat stock is cut tosize, the flaps 99 are folded back along the dot and dashlines, and the edges thereof are sewed as indicated pocket. 60' The ends 10* 10are then sewed. to each other, whereby the hood or boot is made to assume the somewhat conical or tapered tubular form as shown in the remaining figures of the drawing. The wire frame 7 is 65 located within'the marginal pocket afforded by the edges9 9,and serves to spread the base of the hood around the edges of the.

slot, while the opening at the outer end of the hoodis elatively small and its the hood To quite closely about the lever 3. The frame 7, which is made of spring wire formed into U-shape, also serves to retain the hood in position over the opening. To this end, the connecting cross portion between the pair 75 of spreading tinesis bent inwardly and then upwardly and outwardly to form the dependent rounded toe 11. The free end of each tine or spring finger is also bent inwardly, upwardly and outwardly to form so the dependent laterally projecting toes or prongs 12. The distance between the ends of the prongs 12 is such as to just clear the Y edge of the opening 2, when the spring fingers are contracted or pressed together. as as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. Placing the boot in position merely involves passing of the hood over the lever 3, and inserting the rounded toe 11 into the slot, after which the free ends or tines of the frame, may be drawn together, inserted within the slot and permitted to expand or spring outwardly.

with the inside surface of the wall. the hood is held firmly in place against accidental detachment. However, should replacementof a worn out boot become necessary, it is obvihm .ous that by simply reversing the mode of installation, the old boot may be taken off and a new one substituted, with a minimum of time and effort and without necessity for the use of tools. ns

While but a single embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be apparent that various modifications may be made, without departing from the spirit and Having described my invention I claim: 1. A boot for closing an opening in a wall thru which a movable member extends, in-

cluding a flexible cover termed from a single piece of fabric into substantially conical shape and-adapted to surround the movable member, said conical shape cover having an inturned told at the base thereof and a spring element located within the base fold and adapted to be sprung into engagement with the sides of the opening to position said cover over the opening.

2. A boot for closing an opening in a wall thru which an operating lever extends, includin a tapered tubular cover of flexible material having a relatively small opening at its outer end to fit the cover closely about the lever, and having a reversely folded portions at the base thereof forming a pocket, and an expansible member locatedwithin the pocket, adapted to overlie the wall edges at the opening. and having dependent portions to abut the sides of the openingand inside surface of the Wall to position the boot over the opening.

3. A boot for closing an opening in a wall thru which an operating lever extends, including a tubular cover of flexible. material, one end of which is adapted to fit closely about the operating lever and a frame associated with the other end oi the cover, formed of spring wire bent into U-shape, the free ends of which are formed with dependent outturned portions which are adapted, to be projected thru the opening and spread into engagement with the inside of the wall, to hold the. cover over the opening.

The combination with a housing having an elongated slot therein and a reciprocatorv lever extending thru the slot. of a flexible hoot surrouinlin; the lever, and means to se ure the hoot to the ll(JHSlI1I,(fUltsisting of a meinlwr having portions in engagei'neni with the boot and dependent I101- tions extending thru the opening in contact with the edges thereof. and having lateral outwardly bent extensions engaging the inside of; the housing wall to firmly hold the boot over said opening.

In testimony whereol I allix my signature.

ALBERT G. CJQIS'ITERT. 

